Sunday, July 10, 2016

Russia Says It Has Intelligence Snowden Stole

Russia has announced that it has the intelligence Edward Snowden stole from the U.S. in 2013 while he worked as a contractor for the National Security Agency. This is further evidence that Snowden gravely damaged the national security of the U.S. SCI assessed such damage in 2013 even when pundits and politicians praised him and his cohorts.

Mary Louise Kelly, NPR News national security correspondent, reported the following on June 29.

… I put this question to Frants Klintsevich. He’s the equivalent of a senator here in Russia and deputy chairman of the powerful defense and security committee.

FRANTS KLINTSEVICH: (Speaking Russian).

KELLY: “Let’s be frank,” he says. “Snowden did share intelligence. This is what security services do,” adds Klintsevich. “If there’s a possibility to get information, they will get it.” It’s a possibility that Snowden’s lawyer, Ben Wizner of the ACLU, denies.

Like Snowden’s lawyer, many people will say Klintsevich is mistaken or lying. Nevertheless, SCI assessed in 2013 that Snowden gravely damaged U.S. national security. SCI also assessed the motivations of Glenn Greenwald and other Snowden associates.

At the same time SCI was accurately assessing the damage Snowden did to U.S. national security, high-profile public figures defended him and his cohorts.

Such high-profile figures included Al Gore, the man who attempted to steal the 2000 U.S. presidential election. Gore made positive comments about Snowden in 2013 and 2014.

Another high-profile figure who has defended Snowden and his cohorts is former U.S. Representative Ron Paul. Paul praised Snowden and Greenwald in 2013.

Snowden’s betrayal has gravely damaged U.S. national security and Frants Klintsevich’s comments are the latest evidence of this. However, the full extent of Snowden’s damage is not yet known and might not be known for many years or longer.